Supplement Shortcuts

My wife and I are fairly obsessive health nuts. We're strict on diet, exercise, and...of course...supplementation. Of course, we're on a limited budget (who isn't?), so it always kills us how expensive some of these supplements are. To combat this, we started looking for ways around the price crunch.

The only shortcut I've found is to stay away from GNC. I used to buy from a local health store that gave me points (good savings), and I now switched to another chain called "Vitamin Shoppe". I can save like 15% compared to GNC just because of the points.

The other thing I've done is what you have done: switch from brand name to generic pharmacy brand. A lof of these supplements are just mega doses of minerals and vitamin B and C (methabolic boosters are usually just ginseng, chromium picolinate and truckloads of vitamin B complex.) It's cheaper for me to get generic brands of chromium and B complex and ginger tea over Hydroxicut, for example.

The only thing my g/f and I have had a hard time to replace is our glutamin supplement. We use one that comes with vitamin C and has a fruit flavor. It would be cheaper to go to a more generic brand, BUT we like the fact we can mix this particular brand with almost anything (gathorade, fruit juice, fruit-flavored protein shakes) without the result tasting like crap.

Another thing we have done is to get NOXPLODE, and mix it with a generic brand of creatine monohydrate. So far, it works well for us while cutting the price almost in half.

The street argument is retarded. BJJ is so much overkill for the street that its ridiculous. Unless you're the idiot that picks a fight with the high school wrestling team, barring knife or gun play, the opponent shouldn't make it past double leg + ground and pound - Osiris

The only supplements that require real good verifiable quality are Fish Oils. I'd probably buy those from a local store.. cuz they'd have issues being in the 100 degree celsius trucks delivered by USPS/UPS/FedEX get Nordic Naturals or antoher brand that is like kept in a refridgerated container at the store.

also quality multivitamins is another must. cheap ones aren't bioabsorpable and you just piss it all away. check relentlessimprovement.com or uniquenutrition.net for some great quality ones.

as for Bulk protein/everything else. buying in bulk and capping yourself saves tons of $$$
try bulknutrition or nutraplanet